As this semester is at its midpoint, I do see the teacher that I started out wanting to be. I wanted to be a teacher that is able to make a connection with his students. I would also like to foster a mutual respect with the students without necessarily wanting to be their friend. I feeling that I am able to create a level of enthusiasm for science that echoes my interest.
I am very satisfied that I am finally teaching. I hope that I can continue this enthusiasm for many years to come (until I retire). I hope that is not just wishful thinking.
Some of the areas in which I feel I am excelling include opening the lecture, incorporating analogies that relate to my instruction, and fostering a environment that values mutual respect. I think that all these points have one thing in common, keep the student perspective in mind. I see the students as young adults, not out of control teenagers. It is my perspective that allows me to treat them with respect and actively think about them as I create my daily plans for instruction.
An area of improvement includes controlling student behavior. I feel that if I stop my instruction just to start the overhead projector, the students will take this opportunity to talk. Once this happens, I need to waste time trying to refocus their attention back to my instruction. I am trying to find different strategies that will prevent these situations as well as better deal with these situations if they appear. I am talking to my CT, as well as other teachers from other disciplines regarding how to control student behavior.
As this semester is at its midpoint, I do see the teacher that I started out wanting to be. I wanted to be a teacher that is able to make a connection with his students. I would also like to foster a mutual respect with the students without necessarily wanting to be their friend. I feeling that I am able to create a level of enthusiasm for science that echoes my interest.
I am very satisfied that I am finally teaching. I hope that I can continue this enthusiasm for many years to come (until I retire). I hope that is not just wishful thinking.
Some of the areas in which I feel I am excelling include opening the lecture, incorporating analogies that relate to my instruction, and fostering a environment that values mutual respect. I think that all these points have one thing in common, keep the student perspective in mind. I see the students as young adults, not out of control teenagers. It is my perspective that allows me to treat them with respect and actively think about them as I create my daily plans for instruction.
An area of improvement includes controlling student behavior. I feel that if I stop my instruction just to start the overhead projector, the students will take this opportunity to talk. Once this happens, I need to waste time trying to refocus their attention back to my instruction. I am trying to find different strategies that will prevent these situations as well as better deal with these situations if they appear. I am talking to my CT, as well as other teachers from other disciplines regarding how to control student behavior.